Effect of ukrain on ischemia/reperfusion-induced kidney injury in rats.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential protective effect of ukrain on an experimental kidney injury model induced by ischemia and reperfusion (IR) in rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally and randomly separated into three groups as follows: group-1: controls (C; only laparotomy); group 2: renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR; occlusion of the renal artery for 30 min and 2 h of reperfusion); and group 3: ukrain treatment and IR applied group (U + IR; occlusion of the renal artery for 30 min and 2 h of reperfusion; ukrain was intraperitoneally administered 1 h before the IR process). RESULTS: Serum total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels were measured. The oxidative stress index was determined by calculating the TOS/TAS ratio. TAS serum levels significantly increased, and TOS serum levels also prominently decreased in U + IR group, when compared with the IR group (P < 0.001). Mean NGAL level was remarkably higher in IR group, when compared with the U + IR group (P < 0.001). Caspase-3 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression level increased in IR and decreased in U + IR group (P < 0.001). Bcl-xL serum and mRNA expression levels increased in the U + IR group (P < 0.001). In addition, serum iNOS and mRNA expression levels increased in IR group and decreased in U + IR group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Data established from the present study suggest that ukrain may exhibit protective effect against IR-induced kidney injury and that antioxidant activity primarily modulates this effect.

Enteric duplication cyst located at the posterior tongue: a rare case report and review of the literature.

The lingual localization of an enteric duplication is extremely rare but may present with respiratory and feeding problems that require emergency intervention. A 7-month-old boy was brought to our clinic with feeding difficulties and tongue swelling. Physical examination showed a cystic lesion located near the left side of the tongue base that caused tongue protrusion to the contralateral side. During surgery, a 3-cm diameter opaque thick-walled cyst was found to be very closely adherent to the base of tongue, which was excised in its entirety. Following surgery, the patient fed during the early postoperative period and no complications were observed other than hypersalivation. On histological examination, a cystic lesion lined with intestinal mucosa and goblet cells was found. We present the rare case of a duplication cyst of the posterior tongue, with a literature review.

Frequency of hematological findings associated with severe plasma vitamin B12 deficiency in infants and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the hematological status of severe vitamin B12 deficiency in infants and adolescents. METHODS: This study involved 95 infants and 117 adolescents with severe plasma vitamin B12 deficiency (< 120 pg/ mL) and normal plasma folate and ferritin. Infants were aged between one and 24 months. Adolescents were aged between 11 and 17 years. RESULTS: Macrocytic anemia was associated with nine (9.5%) out of 95 infants with severe vitamin B12 deficiency. Neutropenia was found in 16 (16.8%) out of 95 infants with severe vitamin B12 deficiency. Thrombocytopenia was not found in 95 infants with severe vitamin B12 deficiency. Macrocytic anemia was found in two (1.7%) out of 117 adolescents with a severe vitamin B12 deficiency. Neutropenia was associated in one (0.8%) out of 117 adolescents with severe vitamin B12 deficiency. Thrombocytopenia was not found in 117 adolescents with severe vitamin B12 deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Low clinical or hematological findings for B12 deficiency in infants and adolescents living in regions at risk, such as those with low consumption of meat and other animal products warrant the measurement of vitamin B12 level.

Responsiveness to parenteral iron therapy in children with oral iron-refractory iron-deficiency anemia.

UNLABELLED: Intravenous (IV) ferric iron (Fe)-carbohydrate complexes are used for treating Fe deficiency in children with iron-refractory iron-deficiency anemia (IRIDA). An optimal treatment has yet to be determined. There are relatively little publications on the responsiveness to IV iron therapy in children with IRIDA. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This study analyzed responses to IV iron sucrose therapy given to 11 children, ranging in age from 2 to 13 years (mean 4.8 years), with iron-deficiency anemia who were unresponsive to oral iron therapy. RESULTS: The hemoglobin and ferritin values (mean) of the 11 children with IRIDA were 7.7 g/dL and 4.8 ng/mL at diagnosis. Both hemoglobin and ferritin levels increased to 9.5 g/dL, and 24 ng/mL, respectively, at 6 weeks after the first therapy. Although the level of hemoglobin was steady at 6 months after the first, and 6 weeks after the second therapy, the ferritin levels continued to increase up to 30 ng/mL and 47 ng/mL at 6 months after the first and 6 weeks after the second therapy, respectively. CONCLUSION: We recommend that IRIDA should be considered in patients presenting with iron-deficiency anemia of unknown cause that is unresponsive to oral iron therapy. Our results suggest that IV iron therapy should be administered only once in cases of IRIDA. Continued administration of IV iron would be of no benefit to increase hemoglobin levels. On the contrary, ferritin levels may continue to increase resulting in untoward effects of hyperferritinemia.